Getting US Visa for teenage daughters

[vscampbell 11]

We have three adopted (family members already) daughters in Philippines and are wondering how long it would take to get them visas to come to the USA? There are so many kids being abandoned there that I hope the US government is helping to expidite matters. The Philippine government has been great, they are basically processing adoptions to qualified parents on a three month schedule due to the many kids wandering the countryside.

[Mike E 11,741]

1 minute ago, vscampbell said:

We have three adopted (family members already) daughters in Philippines and are wondering how long it would take to get them visas to come to the USA? There are so many kids being abandoned there that I hope the US government is helping to expidite matters. The Philippine government has been great, they are basically processing adoptions to qualified parents on a three month schedule due to the many kids wandering the countryside.

Where they adopted before or after I-129F was filed?

[vscampbell 11]

Actually I misspoke, the adoptions are still in process but the parent has signed over custody and has left the country. They are staying with family members while we process but so far it has been smooth. No other paperwork with the USA has been filed since this was a recent event.

 

[Crazy Cat 41,981]

8 minutes ago, vscampbell said:

that I hope the US government is helping to expidite matters.

Nope.  Nothing in immigration is fast.  There are a LOT of people already in line.  

Edited February 24, 2023 by Crazy Cat

[Mike E 11,741]

Just now, vscampbell said:

Actually I misspoke, the adoptions are still in process but the parent has signed over custody and has left the country. They are staying with family members while we process but so far it has been smooth. No other paperwork with the USA has been filed since this was a recent event.

 

Are these future adoptees biological relatives to the K-1 fiancé(e)?

[vscampbell 11]

WE plan on waithing until all paperwork on the Philippine side is done before doing anything with USA

 

[vscampbell 11]

Yes, they are the nieces of my wife. She is here legally and has a green card. She and I are adopting the girls since there is no parent in country there. My wife came here four years ago and we were married within two months of her arrival. 

 

[Mike E 11,741]

2 minutes ago, Mike E said:

Are these future adoptees biological relatives to the K-1 fiancé(e)?

 

2 minutes ago, vscampbell said:

WE plan on waithing until all paperwork on the Philippine side is done before doing anything with USA

 

Hopefully you read https://www.uscis.gov/adoption/bringing-your-internationally-adopted-child-to-the-united-states and understand what you are facing. 
 

I’ve seen enough adoption tragedies to conclude that that cases like yours require superior legal representation. The most recent was  this week on Reddit where despite the attorney being a senior counsel for INS in a past position, the adoptee is finding out now the case was probably messed up and if so, the adoptee is now an illegal alien. 
 

2 minutes ago, vscampbell said:

Yes, they are the nieces of my wife. She is here legally and has a green card. She and I are adopting the girls since there is no parent in country there. My wife came here four years ago and we were married within two months of her arrival

Definitely avoid the DIY path, as this scenario raises all manner of suspicion. 

[Crazy Cat 41,981]

1 minute ago, Mike E said:

I’ve seen enough adoption tragedies to conclude that that cases like yours require superior legal representation.

^^^^^  This^^^^^  Good luck.

[vscampbell 11]

Thanks guys. I really appreciate your input. This just ads to my list of reasons to move out of the country. 😉 

 

The list is already long and growing. We have property and a home there and were planning on moving in a couple of years anyway, maybe we'll just go there and get the family settled and then apply so they can travel with us as possible.

 

I really wonder if the government has any clue what they are doing. I know so many people who are moving to other nations and taking their money with them. Sad when you think of it. When you travel to Asia it looks like a typical mall in Seattle.

[Crazy Cat 41,981]

6 minutes ago, vscampbell said:

Thanks guys. I really appreciate your input. This just ads to my list of reasons to move out of the country. 😉 

 

The list is already long and growing. We have property and a home there and were planning on moving in a couple of years anyway, maybe we'll just go there and get the family settled and then apply so they can travel with us as possible.

 

I really wonder if the government has any clue what they are doing. I know so many people who are moving to other nations and taking their money with them. Sad when you think of it. When you travel to Asia it looks like a typical mall in Seattle.

I guarantee you there are more people wanting to come to the US than those who are leaving.  Just check the visa bulletin.  Matters not where you live as a US citizen or Green Card holder.  You must report all world-wide income and pay US taxes.  If you renounce US citizenship, you will pay BIG TIME...

[Mike E 11,741]

14 minutes ago, vscampbell said:

Thanks guys. I really appreciate your input. This just ads to my list of reasons to move out of the country. 😉 

Moving to the Phils to raise your three adopted daughters is likely the best thing you can do to assure they get U.S. citizenship. You are a great dad!

[JeanneAdil 6,562]

Two thins u need to know

 

https://www.uscis.gov/adoption/bringing-your-internationally-adopted-child-to-the-united-states

 

 Parents must accrue 2 years of legal and physical custody and obtain a full, final adoption of the child to be eligible to file a Form I-130. Legal and physical custody can be accrued in 1 period of time or cumulatively over several periods. They can also be accrued before, during and after the adoption. The 2 years must be accrued BEFORE you file Form I-130. Also, the adoption must be finalized before your child’s 16th birthday (or 18th birthday 

 

And

 

• Child's original birth certificate or, if unavailable, a written explanation together with secondary evidence of identity and age (e.g. a re-issued birth certificate listing the adoptive parents);
• Evidence that the child either has no parents or a sole/surviving parent unable to provide proper care who has irrevocably released the child for emigration and adoption;
• Evidence of adoption or intent to adopt.

I would see a good lawyer

[vscampbell 11]

That was my thought also. We have the means to do that, so I think it's for the best and we have a lot of family there that has rallied around the girls to protect them while we make arrangements.

[Boiler 45,673]

So the Parents are still living, presumably working abroad?